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Borrego Springs, CA

Friday, October 15, 2010

The warning signs were correct!

Have you ever noticed how out West the road caution signs may say ‘Possible High Winds Next 5 Miles', and then when you get to the end of the 5 miles, another similar sign is posted?  Why don’t they just say Possible High Winds Next 100 Miles?  I always feel a sense of relief after having made it through the first five miles, but then a feeling of dread as another sign appears.  I’d rather know right off how many miles I need to be on guard!  That’s how the last 25 or so miles of my 200+ mile journey went today.  At least the winds were mostly a tail wind, for a change, and I stopped before they really got out of control.
IMG_6219I ended up in Rawlins, WY, at the Western Hills Campground.  This place is one huge gravel parking lot, but there is a dog run, it’s very level, and it’s an only slightly difficult approach because of construction from I-80.  By the time I got to this exit, I was ready to pack it in!  :)

RICK, has commented that he would like to see a lot of pictures of Wyoming since he and Paulette haven’t been to this area.  Well, I have to tell you that I didn’t have many photo opportunities today.  I’m not one of those people who can drive this big rig and take photos at the same time.  The places that I did stop to refresh weren’t exactly scenic.  :)  The first 100 miles heading East from Evanston kind of reminded me of the Badlands of South Dakota.  Not as spectacular, but austere in their own way.  After that is was a rolling terrain of sage brush and buttes.  Quite a few of those buttes had me chugging along with my warning flashers going as I slowly made it up to the summits.  I think I crossed the continental divide three times today, and am presently at an elevation that is close to 7000’.  I’m guessing that it will get a little nippy tonight.
IMG_6216This is the view across the street from the campground and looking to the West along I-80.
IMG_6217And to the East, pretty much more of the same.  The dried grasses all appear golden in the setting sun, and the hills (or mountains) retain that soft look from afar even though it is a rather harsh environment.  I don’t know if this is considered the high plains or the high desert.
IMG_6222Whatever it is, it makes for some long shadows of this woman and her dog.  :)  (we kind of look like pin heads, don’t we?)

Since we’re less than 150 miles from Cheyenne, I’m thinking of maybe pressing on to the Denver area tomorrow.  You know how fulltimer’s plans are though…wiggly like Jell-O!  The winds have calmed some as the sun has gone down, so maybe I won’t pull in my big slide tonight as I thought I might.  We’ll see.

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy 

16 comments:

  1. I've driven through WY from Billings to Cheyenne several times and it really is the wide open spaces. And it is always windy in WY. They may talk about Chicago being windy by WY has it beat every which way in my opinion.

    Safe travels tomorrow.

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  2. Yep, been to that park. Like you said, just a gravel parking lot with electric posts sticking out of it. ;-)

    Have a safe trip,

    Jim

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  3. We experienced a lot of wind in Wyoming, too. I'm glad you made it to Rawlins safely.

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  4. You sort of look like a "high plains drifter" in that shadowy pic. I do think the golden brown landscape against that clear blue sky is so beautiful. I always enjoy the plains states. Miles and miles of.....more miles and miles. But I always enjoy driving through that area. Glad you made it safely today and the winds weren't too horrible.

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  5. Well, the photos are interesting, especially you and Emma. Like how your shadows blend together/are connected . . . real relationship goin' on there. Hope you have a peaceful rest tonight and safe travels onward with all your winds tailwinds!

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  6. Cheers to your windy day!..great shots of the plains for Wyoming!

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  7. I just love the shadow shot. If that was me and Katie, I'd print it and frame it.
    Barbara

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  8. Western Hills is just like you described ... but it's a great place for newbies arriving very late at night ... which is what happened to us in July when I-80 was shut down for nearly two hours due to a very bad wreck. By the time we made it in, we were thankful to see there would be no obstructions to maneuver around as we pulled into our site.

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  9. We were in Sheridan, Wy, this summer and it was windy every day, but would settle in the evenings on some days, but others were windy all night and into the next day. Stay safe.

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  10. Love those high plains shots of Wyoming. I never knew Wyoming was that windy, interesting.

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  11. Your pics are totally what we remember from
    Wyoming...vast rolling hills...and yes, the higher elevations can get nippy...put an extra log on the fire!!

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  12. Can you imagine traveling in a covered wagon ....

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  13. Odel and I did the same thing today, only in Nevada, heading west... climbing one pass after another, chugging up in 3rd or 4th, often with the flashers on, then coasting down into another valley, then climbing again. Basin and range, down and up.

    It hit me hard to see Margie's comment on your blog post after reading the terrible story of their passing. She was such a part of the web of blogging RV'ers, it is hard to believe we won't see her kind and encouraging comments any longer.

    Safe travels to you and Emma!

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  14. We stayed at that campground this year and as I recall the winds never let up. It is a great place to stop for a day or two. They have an interesting boot hill there.

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  15. Yup, Wyoming is a windy place. But don't rush through Cheyenne - it's a great place!

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  16. When we were in Cheyenne this summer, we also had wind. I love those rolling hills of the pains - although they were a beautiful green when we were there.

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